excruciate

[ ik-skroo-shee-eyt ]
See synonyms for: excruciateexcruciating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),ex·cru·ci·at·ed, ex·cru·ci·at·ing.
  1. to inflict severe pain upon; torture: The headache excruciated him.

  2. to cause mental anguish to; irritate greatly.

Origin of excruciate

1
1560–70; <Latin excruciātus, past participle of excruciāre to torment, torture, equivalent to ex-ex-1 + cruciāre to torment, crucify (derivative of crux cross); see -ate1

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How to use excruciate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for excruciate

excruciate

/ (ɪkˈskruːʃɪˌeɪt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to inflict mental suffering on; torment

  2. obsolete to inflict physical pain on; torture

Origin of excruciate

1
C16: from Latin excruciāre, from cruciāre to crucify, from crux cross

Derived forms of excruciate

  • excruciation, noun

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